KATHMANDU, Feb 13: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak directed the concerned bodies to make the pre-disaster and post-disaster information systems more effective.
He issued this directive during a discussion program on these information systems at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak emphasized the important role of Nepal Telecom and Ncell in the transmission of pre-disaster and post-disaster information. However, he stated that for pre-disaster information dissemination, it would be more effective to have a system where the mobile phone rings instead of receiving a message.
He said, "Classifying each municipality and transmitting pre-disaster information with a ringing sound on mobile phones will be more effective. This will help us receive early warnings for monsoon-related disasters."
Home Minister Lekhak also emphasized that while volunteers have been formed at the local level for disaster relief, the primary responsibility for rescue operations must remain with the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and the Armed Police Force of Nepal.
He emphasized the need to establish a down-to-approach system for receiving post-disaster information. Home Minister Lekhak proposed creating a mechanism that would assign responsibility to the five elected representatives in each ward for transmitting post-disaster information.
He stated that establishing an "off-down" communication system would enhance the effectiveness of both pre- and post-disaster information transmission. "Monsoon-related risks will begin in June. We must improve the information system by then. For disasters without pre-information, we need to strengthen the down-to-approach system at the ward level," he added.